The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-04-06

i'm Palestine, Jerusalem was a difficult city,
But the disciples were to begin at Jerusalem.
Difficult as it was, who could predict what
might take place there if the Word of God
should he preached there in demonstration
of the Spirit and with power. We have the
inspiring story. Probably Cleveland is less
difficult than old Capernaum, and i'm
mensely less inaccessible than Jerusalem;
while we have the same Word of God and
the same Holy Spirit. In retiring from
pastorate so richly blessed, and in giving
himself exclusively to the work of an evan
gelist, DR.. Pentecost did well to begin in
Cleveland, this Jerusalem of the Western
Reserve. In his coming may we have another
made in the Second Presbyterian church on
Sunday morning, March 18th, at eight
o'clock. When this early appointment was
made an earnest protest was entered. 1t
was urged that Christians in Cleveland, as
in other cities. sleep on Sunday mornings.
A persistent effort was made to get the
hour changed. Nobody would be there at
eight o'clock. The meeting would be a
failure. Some of us thought differently.
Families were heard from who looked upon
this as time in which to change domestic
plans, in manner even as revolutionary as
to fix the breakfast hour an hour earlier on
Sunday morning. One superintendent sent
"a personal note to each of his teachers urg-
ing them to attend this early meeting The
morning was one of the loveliest of the
the large lecture-room of the church, seating
from five hundred to six hundred people,
was well filed The address on Christian
work was admirable. 1t reached every
body. One influential layman, who had
protested against the hour. was converted
at this first session. It was just the hour, in
his opinion. 1t would not do to change it.
On this first Sunday DIR. Pentecost did such
a days work as only a man of his superb
and seasoned health and unwearied voice
could safely attempt He preached four
times, and each time sermons of nearly an
hour in length. But the next morning he
was as fresh as a boy The services were
fully attended. In the evening, in a blind
ing snow-storm, the house, as they say in
Missouri, was plum full" On this first
day the sermons were all of them addressed
to church-members. They were effective to
many. Especially among the Presbyterians
DIR. Pentecost was stranger. Some thought
his name was spelled with an "a Others
questioned this, and spelled it with an 'i.'
They are finding out where the eyes belong
in his case. Many of the pastors who had
known him by reputation only now heard
him for the first time. OF these | was one.
He engaged confidence Immediately. He
preached the gospel simply, clearly, per-
suasively, wisely, with tenderness and with
power. A reporter heard him in the morn
ing and said: He is clear, forcible, con-
versational, like an able lawyer He heard
him again in the afternoon and said: He
is an orator. He held up Christ Loyalty.
This is something far more to the purpose.
The Bible readings opened on Monday
afternoon with the first of three delightful
expostions of the Seventy-thrd Psalm
These meetings have been largely attended
from the first by persons from all parts of
the city, and from towns as far away as
thirty miles. They have been of great
value. They show that our churches are
full of people who hunger for the Word of
God. The evening services have been
preaching services, with an after meeting
for workers on Monday evening, held in
the chapel, and largely attended, and with
after-meetings for prayer and for drawing
The after-meeting of Monday evening was
| full"